Meat-slicer.



No. 857,155. P ATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

F. P. BURKHARDT.

MEA T SLIGER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 857,155. PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

' F. P. BURKHARDT.

MEAT SLIGBR. APPLIOATION FILED MAB-.12. 1904.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

m r FIGE.

FRANKLIN. P. BURKHARDT, oF, SPRINGFIELD, orno, ASSIGNOR To THE ANDERSONmoon COMPANjr'yOF ANDERSON, INDIANA, A CORPORA- TION OF INDIANA;

To all whom it m aljj concern} Be it known that I, FRANKLIN I).'BURK- I.HARDT, a citizen of the United States, resid.

- is automatically progressed or fed toward the plane of operation ofthe cutter.

A further object of the inventionis to provide means whereby the depthof cutmade by the cutter may be adjustably' regulated.

Other. objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The inventlonfconsists substantially in the 7 construction,combination,- location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will bemore fullyhereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings,and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views andreference signs appearing thereon,-Figure 1 is a view in top planof ameatslicing machine embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 isa view in side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detached. brokendetail view in section of a part of the automatic feeding mechanism.Fig. 4 is a detached detail view of a part of the means for adjustablyregulating the depthof cut made by the cutter. Fig. 5 is an endelevation looking from the right of Fig. 2..

The same part is designated by the same reference sign wherever itoccurs throughout the several views.

In the drawings reference sign 1 designates the main frame of themachine, which is made in one piece and upon which are supported thevarious working parts of the mechanism. 7 Reference sign 2 designatesthe preferred form of slicing cutter, and is in the form of a diskcutter and is carried by an enlarged wheel 3, mounted upon a shaft 4,journaled in suitable bearings formed in the main 4 in many convenientways.

frame. Rotation may be imparted to shaft I have shown the preferredsimple arrangement, wherein a Specification-ofLetters Patent.Application filed March 12,1904. Serial No. 197,776.

MEAT-SLIGER.

Patented June 18,, v1907.

gear 5, mounted on shaft 4,. is arranged to.

intermesh with a driving gear 6, carried by a sleeve 7, mounted upon afixed stud 8. A crank handle 9, suitably connected to gear 6 affordsmeans for imparting rotation to shaft 4. By mounting the cutter or knife2 upon an enlarged wheel 3, as above described, said wheel also servesthe purpose-of a counterbalancing wheel, whereby the machine is steadiedduring the operation thereof, and is enabled to run more smoothly thanwould be the case otherwise.

Upon a stud 10, mounted in the main frame, is a rocking oke 11, in theupper ends of the arms of which are supported at one endthe rods 12, 13.At their other ends these rods are connected by a cross bar 14,, whichis supported for vertical adjustment in any convenient manner, as, 'forinstance, by means of a leg 15.. In the preferred form shown, the leg 15is secured to-the cross-bar 1e by-means of a bolt 16, arranged to extendthrough the cross-bar and through a longitudinal slot 17, in the leg. Bythis construetion it will be seen that thecross-bar 14, and hence theends of the rods 12, 13,-connected thereby, maybe raised and lowered asdesired, the yoke support for the other ends of said rodsrocking uponthe-stud 10 during such vertical adjustment. The rods 12, 13 arearranged to extend in parallel relation with res set to each. other andwith respect to the ane of action of the rotary cutter 2, and a 0rdguiding supports for a reciprocatory table 19, said tab e carrying guideboxes 20 u on the under side thereof, through Whic the rods 12, 13 pass.Relative reci rocatory movements may. be imparted to t e table androtary cutter in any convenient maimer. In the particular form shown, towhich, however, my invention is not to be limited or restricted, and asabove indicated, the table,19 is reciprocated, being sup ported andguidedby the rods 12, 13, and m a line parallel with the plane of actionof the rotary cutter. Reciprocations may be imparted to the table 19 inmany different ways. I have shown a simple. arrangement, as thepreferred form, wherein I mount a crank arm 21, on the end of a shaft22, suitably journaled in the framework, and I interpose a connectingrod or link 23 between,

the table 19 and said crank arm. As shown, one end .of said rod or linkis pivotally connected to a block 24, secured to table 19, and

at the other end thereof is connected to the secure steadiness and easyworking of the said stud being apparatus, the crank arm 21 may becounterweighted, as indicated at 27. Rotations may be imparted to shaft22 in any conven-- ient way. In the preferred form shown, the shaft 22is driven from.the same source from which the cutter is driven. As oneform of driving gearing I have shown a sprocket chain 28, arranged tooperate over.

pair of sprocket gears'aceording to t 'e speed required. If desired, andin order to maintain tautness in the sprocket chain, a s ringpressedbelt tightener 33, may be emp oyed. This belt-tightener is pivotallymounted upon a convenient part of the framework so as to be rocked outof the way when it is desired to shift the s rocket chain 28 from one tothe Otherset o sprockets. A 5 ring 34 serves to yieldingly maintain t ebelttightener pressed against thes rocket chain when in operation, andthe elt-tightener should be so constructed as to serve its pur poseswhether the sprocket chain is on one or the other set of sprocket gears.

In suitable bearing boxes 35, 36, carried by table 19, is mounted a rod37.

38 designates a table, platform ,or other support, mounted upon to movewith table 19 during the reciprocatory-movements of the latter, butcapable of movement along said table 19 transverse to the line of itsreciprocatory movement. This table, platform or support 38, is providedwith boxes-or bearings 39, 40, arranged to slide upon and to be guidedby rod 37, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The table or support 38 isprovided witha rack 41, arranged to be engaged by a worm 42, said wormbeing mounted upon a stud 43, supported in bearings 44, 45,

carried-by tab e 19. Mounted upon stud 43 to rotate therewith is aratchet wheel 46, (see Fig. 3). Loosely sleeved upon stud 43, and ininclosing relation with respect to ratchet wheel 46, is a casing47, fromwhich extends an arm 48. The casing 47 is also provided with a barrel49, in which is carried a pawl 50, arranged to cooperate with the teethof ratchet wheel 46. If desired, and in order to maintain efficientengagement of the pawl 50 with the teeth of ratchet 46, a'spring 51 maybe arranged within barrel 49, to exert its tension'upon pawl 50. Thearrangement is such that when casing 47 is rotarily displaced in onedirection the pawl 50 will ride loosely over the teeth of ratchet 46,but when said casing is rotarily displaced in the opposite direction thepawl 50 enga es the ratchet teeth of ratchet wheel 46 and impartsthereto a corresponding rotary movement. Ifdesired, and preferably,means may be provided for yieldingly maintaining the casing 47 in aninitial position and serving to return or restore said casing to suchposition after it has been rotarily displaced. A convenient arrangementfor accomplishing this object is shown, wherein a spring 52, isconnected at one end to casing 47, and at the other end to an arm 53, inthe form of an extensionfrom the bearing 45 of stud 43.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by periodicallyengaging and rocking arm .48 of casing 47 from its initial or retractedposition step by step, rotary movement will be imparted to ratchet wheel46, and hence also to the worm 42, and since the worm 42 is inengagement with the rack 41 of table 38, it will be seen that said tableis progressed or advanced.in a line transverse to the .line ofreciprocatory movements imparted to table 19, While at the same time thetable 38 partakes of the reciprocatory move ments of table 19. Theperiodic engagement of arm 48 to effect this operation may beaccomplished in many specifically different Ways. I have shown a sim learrangement, wherein I mount an adjusta le slide bar 54 in convenientposition upon the frame of the machine to engage the arm 48 at the limitof each stroke or-reciprocatory movement of table 19.. By suita 1yadjusting the bar 54. toward and from the limit of movement of table 19,the degree and extent of rotary movement imparted to the worm 42 may beregulated.

preferred form wherein at the front end of table 38 I provide theupright-rack bars58, 59, upon which is adjustably mounted and guided forvertical movement a crossbar 60. This cross-bar cooperates with thecorrebars 60, 61, may

s ikes 62.-

spondin crossebar 61', supported or nesting upon ta hle38. If desired,and in order to afford an efficient clamping means, the crossbe provldedwith teeth or The adjustable clamp-bar 60 carries spring-pressed'pawls63, 64,-. at the respective ends thereof, respectively arranged tocooperate with the teeth of rack-bars 58,

59, the arrangement being such, that thecross-bar 60 may be readilylowered by eX- erting pressure thereon, the pawls 63, 64, in such eventridin over the teeth of rack-bars 58, 59, but said bar is prevented frombeing raised by reason of the engagement of the down upon the upper baruntil it clamps with guiding supporting pawls with he teeth of therack-bars without rst rocking said pawls out of engaging reiationWithrespect to the teeth of the rack.- bars. In this manner, thematerial to be sliced may be efliciently clamped and held by being lacedin position upon the lower clamp-liar 61, the upper bar beingsufliciently raised, and then simply pressing sufficient tightnessagainst the article, in which position the clamp-bar 60 will be held bythe pawls 63, 64.

The operation of the machine will be readily understood from theforegoing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, and may be briefly stated as follows. The articleito be slicedor cut is placed in position upon the supporting platforms or tables,being, if desired, clamped thereon by the clamping bars 60, 61, of theupper table or plate 38, and projecting forwardly or toward the plane ofaction of the cutter over or upon the lower table or plate 19. The crankhandle 9 is actuated, thereby imparting rotation to the cutter .2. Atthe same time rotation is imparted to shaft 22, through. which the crankarm 21 is rotated, thereby imparting reciprocations to thework-supporting tables 19 and 38, along the rods 12, 13, and in adirection parallel with the plane of action of the cutter, so as tocarry the material to be sliced back and forth past the cutter. Thespeed of the reciprocatory movements thus imparted to the material maybe varied with reference to the speed of action of the cutter, as aboveexplained, by shifting the sprocket chain 28 from one to another of thesets of sprocket gears. This is im iortant, in that it enables therelative speed ormoven ent of the material with reference to the cutterto be varied according to the character of the material tobe sliced. Ateach reciprocation of the work-holder the end of adjustablecbar "54 isengaged by the arm 48 of the ratchet mechanism through which worm 42 isrota.- tively moved through'a given distance, de-

ending. u )OR the position of adjustment of )ar 54, 't ereby imparting astep-bv-step feed or advancement of the carrier table 38 along itsguiding rod 37, and transverse to extent forthe next cut to be made.amounting rods '12, 13,50 as'to be rocked or product.

the princi the line of reciprocatory movement imparted y successivelyadvancing the:

thereto, there work, at each reciprocation-and to an equal swungdownwardly, the depth of cut made by the cutter maybe regulated and con-A trolled; This is important where the mate-v rial to be sliced is, say,for-instance, bacon, for thereason that the piece of bacon may be slicedonly to the skin or rimhinstead of completely severing each slice, untilthe desired number of slices have been cut, when the final cut maybeeffected entirely through the, skin orrind by simply raising the tablesup porting rods 12, 13, thereby dot-aching the sliced portion, but withthe slices all adher ing to the skin or rind of the detached portion,and hence enabling the butcher to remove the skin or rind from all theslices at the same time instead of from the separate individual slices:By this arrangement the article is sliced evenly and smoothly, and inconvenient-form for handling the sliced* From observed that I provide anexceedingly simple and the foregoing description it will be efficientslicing mechanism, employing a rotary knife and a laterally advancingreciprocatiory table or work-holder with vertically adjustable tracksupon which the table reoiprocates, and wherein the reciprocatorymovements of the work-holder are adjustable with reference to the actionof the cutter. It will also be seen that the workholding table 38, withits strap or box guides 39, 40, operating in guide-rod 37, is permittedto be rocked upon such straps or guides so as to raise the rack-bar 41thereof out of engagement with the worm 42, thereby enabling said tableto be advanced or retracted by hand to any desired extent and thenreplaced in position with the worm 4-2 in engagement with the rack 41.It will also beseen that, I employ a comparatively large supportingwheel 3for the cutter 2.

This enables the cutter supporting wheel to serve also the purpose of afly-wheel, thereby enabling the apparatus to be .run steadily andsmoothly, and by providing the crank arm 21 with a counterbalancingprojection 27, the ap aratus is caused to run more regularly antsmoothly during the operation thereof.

' While I have described my invention with reference to its use as ameat slicing device, I do not desire to be limited in this respect, asit is obvious that ajmachine embodying les'of my invention is equallywell adapted or slicing or cutting other sub stances or materials. It isalso obvious that .many variations and changesin the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts would readily occur to personsskilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope ofinvention. I do not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted tothe exact details shown and described. -But,

\ and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

'1. In a meat slicing machine, .a rotary 'cut-.

ter, guides pivotally supported at one end and arranged to extend inlines parallel with respect to the plane of action of the cutter,

an adjustable sup ort for the free ends of said guides, a wor holdermounted toslide upon said guides, 'means for reciprocating saidwork'holder along said guides, a ratchet mechanismfor intermittentlyadvancing said work holder toward the plane of action of the cutter, andmeans actuated by the reciprocatory movements of said work holder foractuating said ratchet mechanism, as and for the purpose set forth. r

2. In a meat slicing machine, a rotary cutter, a pivotally mounted yoke,guide rods supported at one end in said yoke and ar rangpd to extend inlines parallel with respect to t 'e plane of action of the cutter, avertically adjustable su port for the opposite ends of said guide r0 s,a work-holder mounted to slide upon said rods, and means forreciprocating said work holder along said guides, as and for the purposeset forth.

3. In a meat slicing machine, a rotary cutter, a pivotally mounted yoke,guide rods supported at one end in said yoke and arranged to extend inlines parallel with respect to the plane of action of the cutter, avertically adjustable su port for the free ends of said rods, aWorkolder mounted to reciprocate along said guide rods, and meansactuated .by the reciprocatory movements of said work holder forintermittently advancing the same automatically toward'the plane ofaction of the cutter, as and for the purpose set forth. j

4. In a meat slicing machine, a rotary cutter, and a reci rocatorytable, a guide rod carried by said table and extending transverse to theline of reciprocatory movement thereof, a supplemental table having'uiding engagement with said rod at one'enrI and a rack at the oppositeend thereof, aworm arranged to engage'said rack,'and means forintermittently rotating said worm, as and for the purpose set forth.

- 5. In a meat slicing machine, a rotary cutter, and a reciprocatorytable, a guide rod extending in a line transverse to the line ofreciprocatory movement of saidtable, a supplemental table having guidingstraps at one edge thereof operating upon said rod and forming a hingeconnection, said supplemental table provided with a rack at the oppositeedge thereof, a ratchet mechanism with which said rack detachablyengages, and means for intermittently operating said ratchet mechanism,as and for the purpose I ing a rack at one side edge thereof, a Wormarranged to engage said rack, a ratchet gear connected to rotate withsaid worm, a loosely sleeved casing carrying a pawl engaging saidratchet gear, an arm'connected to said casing, and a stationaryadjustable engaging bar arranged to engage said arm to actuate saidcasing, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a meat slicing machine, a rotary cutter, a reciprocatory table, asupplemental table mounted for'movement upon said firstmentioned tablein a line transverse to the line of reciprocatory movement thereof, a

rack connectedto said supplemental table alon one side edge thereof, astud carried by said st mentioned table 'to reciprocate therewith, aworm and a ratchet gear mounted upon said stud to rotate therewith, acasing s eeved over said ratchet gear and carrying a pawl engaging saidgear, an arm connected to said casing, a stationarily mounted adjustablebar arranged in the path of said arm to rotatively displace said-casing,and means for returning said casing to initial position,

- as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a meat slicin machine, a main frame, a cutter shaft an a. countershaft journaled therein, a drive mechanism arranged to rotate bothof said shafts, a cutter carried by said cutter shaft (guide rods(pjvotallymounted;,at one end an supporte for vertical adjustment at theother end, a work holder mounted to slide on said rods, and meansactuated by said countershaft for reciprocating said holder onsaid rodspast the and. for the purpose set forth.

9. In a meat slicing machine, a main frame made in one piece, a cuttershaft and a councutter, as

tershaft journaled therein, guide rods pivot ally connected to said mainframe at one end, means for adjusting the height of the other ends ofsaid rods, a work holder mounted to slide on said rods, a cutter-mountedon said cutter shaft, and connections between said countershaft and workholder for reciprocating the latter, as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of March1904, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

FRANKLIN PQBUR IIARDT.

Witnesses: I

WILLIAM H. GUTHRIE, Jr., EDGAR SANDERS.

